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Flow state

Anyone can get into flow state, in almost any situation; however, it requires a few nuanced conditions.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the phrase back in 1975. I am sure many others had experienced it, but Mihaly brought it to our attention.

Flow state is as individual as we are. It can happen when we least expect it, and we know it happened when we suddenly realise: how did I get here? Or, wow, time stood still there for a minute. Or it’s as benign as patting the cat, or looking at a sunrise or sunset.

I never thought I could get into flow state while writing; it just flows out of me now. I get into flow state creating art, cycling, windsurfing, driving, and now software development. It blows my mind that a whole day can pass and I haven’t eaten or moved from my seat.

Getting into flow state. Not sure how others feel, but I can’t get into flow state when I am in an angry, frustrated or low emotional ‘mood’. I have found it comes about more easily when my emotional state is somewhat balanced, calm, or focused on what I love doing. Again, this is different for everyone.

It is worth experimenting with. Here are a few ways to encourage flow:

Eight things to try

None of these is a rule. They are dials, and everyone's settings are different.

  • SoundPutting on our favourite music.
  • SmellOur favourites, whatever they happen to be.
  • Colour and lightWarm or cool lights, to create ambience.
  • TemperatureToo cold or too hot knocks us out of balance.
  • MovementA gentle walk, or an intense workout.
  • EnvironmentGetting out of the city and into nature. At least once a month.
  • QuietNo interruptions, no distractions. Turn off the phone and the TV.
  • MeditationOn its own, or before any of the above.
From experience, not a study. Worth trying one at a time rather than all at once, so you find out which ones are actually yours.

It’s worth mentioning again: thinking about and appreciating the things in your life that you love, or are grateful for, turns flow state on.

This is also why an interruption costs more than the minutes it takes. That is the argument in scope creep and managing time and costs: when you estimate two hours for a change, the flow you lost getting back into it is part of the real number.

I hope this helps someone,
Thanks for reading.
Luke